FishnDive wrote:

Jenko wrote:The only thing I've got to say is...WHY the hell would you take a kid that young out in a Kayak? My grand daughters 5 & 9 keep asking for me to take them out and I refuse to until, as I've told them "when you can swim 4 laps of the pool effortlessly" I'll take you. I think he's a total idiot and so is anyone else that "thinks" its cool to take their little kid out for a spin. As Darren said "S#!^ happens" and can happen fast, what would have happened if Darren hadn't seen them and the guy got so cold he just slipped away, what about the kid? What a dip S#!^...the only thing he should have got is a punch in the head.
And as someone who nearly drowned as a kid, I hope that this event does not affect the kid, still in the back of my mind every time I go on the water.

Jenko without meaning to be controversial and with all due respect to your previous experiences as mentioned I would like to say that there are situations where I would find it perfectly fine to have a kid out on a yak. There are a few non negotiables though:
1) the right type of yak - sit ins make rescue more difficult and open hatches are a disaster as most have bulkheads nowadays meaning water has to be removed from there separately as it won't flow into the main cockpit.
2) the right clothing- neither person involved was adequately clothed.
3) sufficient experience to have knowledge of the conditions/weather and with a kid on board I would be paddling in an area known to me not exploring.
4) swimming ability as you mentioned above. I am very impressed by parents that make the effort to make sure their kids can swim at an early age it is a skill that can save them and perhaps another person one day.

I know there are guys on here that do take their kid out and I think if the proper thought and preparation has gone into it then why not?

laneends wrote:Is the back of a PA an official second seating position?

Babylon wrote:Keep this topic on track either congratulate darren on a great job he has done.do not start changing the path of this thread.babylon..

Babylon wrote:Keep this topic on track either congratulate darren on a great job he has done.do not start changing the path of this thread.babylon..

laneends wrote:Is the back of a PA an official second seating position?

Babylon wrote:Keep this topic on track either congratulate darren on a great job he has done.do not start changing the path of this thread.babylon..

Bretty wrote:

Babylon wrote:Keep this topic on track either congratulate darren on a great job he has done.do not start changing the path of this thread.babylon..

The path of this thread may save someone's life Jim